The Zodiac Cycle

1.14 Jubilee

Zephyr, home of all the Avian species. From dragons, to fairies, to sirens, and Phoenix, if a species could fly, you could find them in Zephyr.

He moment the group crossed over the border from Axton to Zephyr, they could feel how clean the air was. Iris got giddy and her feathers puffed up a bit, as if the air itself was made for her.

Keith also seemed affected by Zephyrs energy, unfurling his wings and spreading them as they walked, absorbing the energy of the land. Carson and Amber seemed to hit it off right away, walking beside each other, talking. Carson marveled at the environment around them, while Amber locked on to any new species they saw, scattered around, usually flying. Ash and Nolan seemed to be fine, chatting with Brianna, and Avery and George walked together in silence, looking a bit uncomfortable.

Iris looked ahead a bit, seeing a sign that read;

Clay Cliffs
1 mile

Iris smiled, feeling that familiar sense of joy, and she started running forward, startling the others.

They let out a couple yells, protesting. They had to leave their horses at Rebecca's mothers estate in Axton because they werent allowed in Zephyr. But Iris didnt stop, as she saw the end of the road ahead, then the sharp drop that was the Clay Cliffs.

This was where her parents had taught her to fly, and she relived that moment as she jumped off the edge of the cliff.

The shouts behind her were muffled by the rushing wind as she plummeted down, flattening her arms against her torso, headfirst, full speed towards the ground.

The feeling of adrenaline and ecstasy flowed through her as the ground got closer and closer.

Then she spread her arms out, along with her feathers and pushed down hard. A massive updraft caught her and she shot up faster than she had fallen. She exclaimed happily as she passed he edge of the cliff again, most of the group looking horrified for a moment before they were able to process, and Brianna smirking at her gently.

She didnt flap again, letting the wind around her carry her back down to the edge of the cliff, flapping only once right before her talons touched back down.

She smiled widely at the group. "Welcome to Zephyr, home of some of the best places to fly."

Keith smiled at her and stepped towards the edge as well. She watched as he jumped, immediately catching an updraft and shooting into the air, letting out happy shouts.

"I'm going to be honest here, I forgot you could fly for a moment there." Nolan pointed at Iris.

A couple others agreed with him and she laughed "I was actually born and raised in Zephyr."

"That's pretty cool!" Carson smirked "I wish I could fly. Can you imagine how cool that would be?" He asked Amber.

She nodded.

"I dont like it here, can we hurry up and find who we need to find?" George crossed his arms.

"Yeah, it gives weird vibes." Avery shrugged.

"That would be the Jubilees." Iris pointed to a yellow flower with pointy looking petals. "They dont bode well for earth-bounds, but they radiate a chemical that's really healthy for Avians. Why do you think that non-avian species dont stay in Zephyr for long?"

Brianna chuckled. "Yeah, I got pretty sick the first time I came here with Iris and her parents."

"And my brother Reed!" Iris pointed out.

Brianna stopped smiling and looked at Iris oddly for a second.

"We didnt know you had a brother." Amber exclaimed, "could we meet him sometime?"

"Oh, my parents and him died in an accident a few years back." Iris shrugged.

Everyone went silent, looking at Iris, who didnt seem phased by what she had just mentioned.

Keith landed beside Iris with a grin on his face. "Wow, we don't have wind like this in Amoa."

"Told you so!" Iris chirped then pointed to a trail that led down the cliff. "We should probably get going if we want to find the next sign.

"What is the next sign?" Rebecca asked.

"Aquarius, the third Air sign." Keith waved the Tracker almost nonchalant. "Also the most independent. Let's hope they dont give us too much of a struggle." He laughed.

"Yeah..." Brianna said slowly, seemingly unsure.

Iris stopped and turned to her friend. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I think the jubilees might be different this year." She plucked one out of the ground and looked at it.

"What do you mean? I think they're more enhanced than before." Iris pulled the flower out of Briannas hand and sniffed it. "Are you feeling sick already?"

"No, I might just be a bit more on edge after last time." Brianna shrugged.

"Thats okay, if you get sick again, I'll take care of you!" Iris winked at her, holding up her arm. "Till we crash and burn right?"

Brianna tapped her arm against Iris's "yeah, always."

Iris skipped ahead back to Keith and they spoke excitedly of Zephyr. she still had the Jubilee, tucking it into her hair.